From December 2005 to May 2012, I was INPE's general director, leading INPE to set up a free and open access policy for its data and products. INPE's budget grew from US$ 90 million in 2004 to US$ 250 million in 2010. We defined a long-term strategic plan, signed major contracts with Brazilian industries, created the Centre for Earth System Science and the Centre for Space Research in Amazonia. We got a new supercomputer for weather and climate prediction and set up a program in Space Weather. INPE's forest monitoring by satellites helped to cut deforestation in Amazonia by 80% from 2005 to 2012.